#hollandry

The entire Boston roster piling behind Marly as he types, trying to decide what to say that could save them because their captain has been possessed by the spirit or a soviet military trainer with knife shoes and if they are forced to make double bagskates again they will either puke or die or both.

(edited to add:) as was pointed out in the comments, of course there's Rose's name - a flower, like Lily, but also literally the first syllable of Ilya's last name, and means the same thing. It's SOO deliciously inescapable; it had to have been intentional.

But like, even their very first meetings were so similar:

Shane already knows who they are and wanted to meet them.

A private meeting where they're not introduced by someone else or on display. It's not for appearances.

Shane starts off complimenting them.

They're not in the least starstruck by him.

They put something in their mouth.

They issue a hockey-related challenge.

From the comments: they order him to put something in his mouth. (for Ilya, admittedly this is during their third encounter, but still)

From the comments: in the book, there's also a seafood connection. Ilya makes a tuna melt for Shane and Rose is eating cod fritters instead of french fries.

This is nothing that hasn't been said before, but yeah, there is real chemistry there. Shane does genuinely like her and gets along well with her. It's just not sexual or romantic. And if Shane was finally going to accept that he's not into girls, it had to be Rose, specifically because she's so perfect for him.

I just love how it was set up--from the very first time we see her, she's positioned in opposition to Ilya. Shane will never be able to stop comparing her to Ilya, and finding her wanting. The relationship was doomed from the start. But it was still necessary, you know? Rose changed the course of Shane's life. It's so cool.

Because Shane and Rose would probably either not speak about their break-up publicly or say that it was because of their schedules and that they are still great friends(which is what they told other people). So they’re saying their schedules make it difficult to be together but they get papped together often enough that it is clear they make the effort to see eachother whenever they are in the same place if they can. And Shane is never with anyone publicly after that. We don’t know how public Rose’s other relationships pre-outing were but we know none of them lasted. If the public did know about them then that would give rise to the slow-burn theory “but look at how they always come back to eachother and they are clearly destined to be together because if not how can you still be so clearly happy and at ease with your ex? Listen they are so clearly in love look at how affection they are with eachother!” Honestly I could so see a published romance novel about a hockey player and an actress falling in love that is very obviously Hollandry with the serial numbers filled off. Do me a favor and imagine Ilya finding out about that and trying to convince Yuna to convince Shane they should sue.

Its pretty Obvious Shane walks a fine line with regard to the way he presents himself. Hes not a fighter, or 'traditionally male' in the expected ways seen in his profession. BUT youve gotta be SO ffr if that translates to him NEVER picking up girls. Yes hes gay. But from what weve seen the performance of heterosexuality is something that is integral to Shanes mask and safety in the league. THEREFORE I PREPOSE AN IDEA😤

Shane would 100% occasionally pick up a girl. He's captain, hes the star/ face of the league, at Minimum he needs that shield to protect him in locker rooms. (idcidcidc what happens in the show/book for this its so unrealistic). If hes seeing Ilya MAYBE 5 times?? a year??? with from what know? Shane does have a decently high libido, i can absolutely see this playing into why dude took nearly 10 years to firmly be like... yeah definitely gay (if he WAS occasionally pulling girls). The comphet went crazy, and the ONLY reference he had for a queer hockey player was Mr. Bisexual himself Ilya Rozanov. A person who genuinely enjoys both. Whereas Shane only enjoys Ilya (in his own words). Definitely could cause some additional confusion.

She gets really mad, because what the fuck, but he backtracks and is like, "No, I believe you, but it's just — what your describing sounds sort of like liking both? Cause I think it'd be only natural to have more chemistry with the same sex, since you understand each other's bodies more. That doesn't mean anything."

"No, Shane, that's what having a sexual preference is," Rose says, a bit baffled, "That's what I've been trying to tell you."

He looks stunned by this, like everything he's ever known has been a lie.

It only hits her then, because she's been a bit preocupied with her own crisis. She suddenly remembered the other reason why their sexual encounters had been so awkward.

"Shane."